A former prison officer who used a bogus passport in an attempt to get phones from a shopping centre has avoided going to jail.

Georgia Falzon, 24, had gone into mobile phone store Three in Westwood Cross, Broadstairs, in September 2020.

The mum then produced a passport in the name of “Rosie Cairn” while trying to obtain phones worth £2,298.

But Maidstone Crown Court heard how a sharp-eyed assistant spotted that the lamination over the photograph had been lifted.

Prosecutor Sophie Murray said that while organising the contract for the phones, Falzon spoke with the assistant.

“She handed over a passport in the name of Rosie Cairn but the assistant became suspicious because the photograph was not straight.

“And it was raised, indicating it had been tampered with and the assistant called the police,” she added.

Two officers then arrived but Falzon, from Rainham, Essex, refused to give her details or hand over the passport and walked away.

“You didn’t get away with this but from your previous occupation you know the seriousness of what you did"

The prosecutor said she was later stopped by police and arrested and it was then officers discovered the number on the passport had been issued to a man in Liverpool.

Falzon pleaded guilty to two fraud charges and received a 12-month community order. She will also have to attend 20 rehabilitation sessions.

Bye Gokhool, defending, said Falzon is no longer working in a prison and is the sole carer for her four-year-old child.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens told the ex-prison officer: “I can tell you straight away that you are not going to prison.

“You didn’t get away with this but from your previous occupation you know the seriousness of what you did - because people rely on passports.

“But the probation report indicates there was a degree of naivety behind what you did and what is clear from your references is you are a good and caring mother who was tempted to commit these offences.”

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